The evening will begin in the church sanctuary with the traditional Evening Service of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Yeregoyan Jamerkutyun, which serves as a preparation for both the night ahead and for the following liturgical day. It includes the variable Hampartsi Sharagan, a cycle of hymns associated with Psalm 120 (121), which begins with the incipit: “I lift up mine eyes to the mountains. From there my help will come.”

By offering an Evening Service, the participants in the workshop will be able to experience in action the liturgical music that many of the papers and presentations address the day before. The Evening Service will be offered by the priests and deacons of the St. John Armenian Church, with the pastor Fr. Aren Jebejian presiding, and participation by the choir director Dn. Rubik Mailian and guest vocalist Dr. Aram Kerovpyan.

After the Evening Service there will be a short concert and musical description by the renowned Armenian musician, clarinetist Hachig Kazarian. Mr. Kazarian is a Julliard-trained musician with a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology. He led the popular band the “Hye Tones” for many years, and has played with John Berberian and Richard Hagopian, among others. Mr. Kazarian will perform several Armenian songs, including a demonstration of a “folk” song with musical patterns similar to the Hamparsi Sharagan.

The evening will conclude with a round-table discussion on the state of Armenian music and the challenges of teaching various genres of Armenian music in the Diaspora. Participants will include Dr. Aram Kerovpyan, Dn. Rubik Mailian, and Hachig Kazarian.

Caption: Paper · 416 ff. · 13.1 x 10 cm · Awendants, Khizan in the Province Van · 1647.

Credit: Utopia, armarium codicum bibliophilorum, Cod. 4: Armenian Hymnarium (Sharaknots) http://www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/list/one/utp/0004